*Training will take place on the Toyota Park Practice Field unless otherwise noted

^Times are approximate and subject to change. Fire players and coaches will be made available following training. Please contact the Chicago Fire Communications Department for updated times and locations. Please contact Eunice Kim at 770.643.7636 for media requests.

CHICAGO FIRE at Philadelphia Union

-The Fire hold a 3-5-1 all-time regular season record against the Union, including a 1-3-0 record in matches played at PPL Park.

-Union assistant coach Jim Curtain was a member of the Fire for the first seven season of his professional career. Selected in the third round (29th overall) of the 2001 MLS SuperDraft, Curtin made 151 MLS Regular Season appearances for the Men in Red, winning the 2003 and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championships and was named a 2004 MLS All-Star during his time with the Fire.

-Fire defender Bakary Soumare joined the Men in Red in a trade with the Union on May 23. Since Soumare joined the Fire’s backline the Fire have only dropped two MLS matches.

-Magee has joined the MLS All-Stars in Kansas City for the 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star game where the best of MLS will face Serie A side AS Roma at Sporting Park on Wednesday, July 31 at 8:00 p.m. CT (ESPN2/UniMas). This is Magee’s first All-Star selection in his 11-year MLS career.

-Fire midfielder Jeff Larentowicz returns to his hometown. The Philadelphia, Pa. native graduated from Chestnut Hill Academy where he lettered in soccer, basketball and golf. The Brown University graduate won back-to-back national championships with FC Delco Arsenal in 2002 and 2003.

TICKETS FOR THE CHICAGO FIRE VS. D.C. UNITED LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP SEMIFINAL MATCH NOW ON SALE

Tickets for the Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match at Toyota Park on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m. CT are now on sale.

The Open Cup match will be included in the Second Star Club and Suite season ticket packages.

Parking will be free to all Fire fans who attend. The Fire will also be discounting hot dogs to just two dollars.

The Fire advanced to the semifinals of the storied tournament with a 5-1 victory over the Orlando City SC June 26 at Toyota Park. A Chris Rolfe brace and goals from Patrick Nyarko, Mike Magee and Joel Lindpere led the Men in Red to their 33rd all-time victory of the 100-year old tournament.

D.C. United advanced after a 3-1 victory over the New England Revolution at the SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.

CHICAGO FIRE OFFER DISCOUNT TO MESSI & FRIENDS ATTENDEES

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club is offering anyone with proof of purchase to the July 6 Messi & Friends event at Soldier Field a 50 percent discount on a ticket to the Aug. 7 Chicago Fire vs. D.C. United Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match.

All discounted ticket offers must be redeemed at the Toyota Park Box Office only. Inquiries regarding the discount can be directed to 1-888-MLS-FIRE.

CHICAGO FIRE LAUNCH THIRD KIT DESIGN CONTEST

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club has partnered with iconic jersey sponsor The Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., to launch the #cf97ThirdKit design contest, asking Fire supporters to submit designs for the jersey the Fire plans to unveil at the club’s Anniversary game in 2014.

The five best designs will be chosen by the Chicago Fire and Quaker Oats. Once the final designs are selected, each winner will work directly with the club’s creative team to place the design into an adidas-approved jersey template. The final designs will then be put to a fan vote on www.Chicago-Fire.com.

The winning design will become a part of Fire history and will be scheduled to make its debut for the Anniversary game in 2014, in addition to other future matchday opportunities. The winner will also receive round trip airfare and accommodations for two to attend the Fire’s match against the Portland Timbers in 2014, including a private tour of the adidas campus in Portland, an opportunity to meet with adidas jersey designers and $500.00 to spend at the adidas employee store. All five selected designers will receive two tickets to sit in the Chicago Fire’s Second Star Club for a Fire match.

To be considered, entrants must download a template form for the design from www.Chicago-Fire.com. This template form will include blank outlines for entrant’s design. Using the template form, entrants must design the new team third jersey (front/sleeves/back). Submissionsmay be sent tocf97thirdkit@chicago-fire.com, delivered in-person or via mail per the official rules. The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, August 14.

For the third consecutive year the club will hold a Practice in the Community, presented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart Field (31st and South Federal) on Saturday, August 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CT. Chicago Fire First Team training is scheduled to take place at 11:00 a.m. CT and is subject to change.

The Fire will venture away from their soccer-specific home of Toyota Park to the Practice in the Community event,bringing the entire Fire team to Chicago’s South Side for a full training session that is open to the general public. Following the practice, the Fire will interact with the fans and members of the local community by signing autographs and talking soccer.

Fans who attend Practice in the Community will also have the opportunity to win a VIP Gameday Experience for the Sept. 1 match against the Houston Dynamo at Toyota Park. This package will include four field-side seats, the opportunity to watch warm ups from the field, access to a post-game autograph session in the Stadium Club and a Fire fan gift pack, including a team autographed Fire jersey.

The Practice in the Community eventispresented by University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UIH), the leaders in the delivery of patient care, education and research. UIH has the vision to create, nurture and sustain long-term relationships with the communities they serve.

Additional information on the Practice in the Community can be foundhere.

CHICAGO FIRE SOCCER CLUB TO HOST THIRD ANNUAL WHITE PARTY

The Chicago Fire Soccer Club will host the Third Annual White Party presented by Swissôtel Chicago at the MCA Warehouse (1747 W. Hubbard) on Thursday, August 8, 2013 from 7:30 – 11:30 p.m. CT.

This unique, stylish event provides guests with an opportunity to sip cocktails while getting to know the Fire and the Chicago Fire Foundation. The White Party will feature a premium open bar, live DJ, hors d’oeuvres and a gift bag for each guest to top off the night. Guests are strongly encouraged to don their most stylish white attire.

Proceeds from the White Party will benefit the Chicago Fire Foundation. In 2012, the White Party sold out with 700 urban professionals in attendance and raised more than $40,000 for the Foundation.

Tickets to the event, which start at $60 for a general admission ticket and $80 for a VIP ticket that includes an upgraded gift bag and access to the VIP lounge with exclusive food and additional bars, can be purchasedhere.